VCE Weekly Update

Vermont's Energy Future

by Annette Smith (Executive Director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment, Inc.)

In the past week, a variety of Vermont's energy issues have been in the news. From the possible sale or shut-down of Vermont Yankee, arbitration of the Hydro-Québec contract and the ice storm damage, the failure of a phase angle regulator that could lead to power outages in Chittenden County and require new polluting power plants and emergency transmission line work, Vermonters are faced with a patchwork of concerns about reliability and sources of our electricity supplies. And the Public Service Board and Vermont's utilities are moving forward with the docket to consider opening Vermont's markets to "competition."

What is needed now is something to tie all these disconnected issues together in a public discussion of Vermont's energy future. We need leadership to address the questions: What does Vermont need? What do Vermonters need? Most people would agree that Vermont needs a reliable supply of electricity at a lower price, with the least environmental cost.

But specifically, what does Vermont need?

Do we need new sources of power generation?
Do we need new pipelines to areas not currently served?
Do we need upgrades to transmission lines?
If Chittenden County is facing blackouts and shortages, if Chittenden County needs power line upgrades, should we consider building new power generation in Chittenden County?
If Chittenden County already has pipeline capacity, is it enough to fuel new generation?
If there is not enough natural gas in Chittenden County to fuel needed electric generation, is it possible to expand the gas supply to fill that need?
If Vermont Yankee is shut down, does it need to be replaced by new generation?
Since merchant power plants cannot be approved under current Vermont law, how will Vermont deal with merchant power plant proposals?
What will bring down the price of electricity for residential service in Vermont?

News Items --

Governor Howard Dean signed an Executive Order creating Vermont's Committee to Ensure Clean Air on April 24, 2000.

Glenville Energy Park's public meeting in Glenville on May 10 gave residents a first look at Robert Votaw, partner in GEP. Tom Macaulay was not present. Votaw was asked about the status of their Vermont project and he responded "inactive". When pressed for the reason it was inactive, he refused to comment, stating it was not related to the GEP project. Mr. Votaw was reported to have been chastened by an audience member for his inability to control his temper, and by a New York Public Service representative who chastised GEP for failing to publicize meetings, put notices and news in the papers, and provide a website that was more than a static unchanging site.

Pipeline safety advocates testified before Senator John McCain's Commerce Committee on May 11, advocating for regulations to require safety inspections, and enforcement of mandates that the Office of Pipeline Safety has ignored for years. [See "Senators say don't let states regulate" (Bellingham Herald) and "With 500,000 miles of fuel pipelines, safety is a national issue" (Rocky Mountain News) for reports.]

Vermonters for a Clean Environment was featured on Energy.com's Power to the People column on Friday, May 12.

Governor Howard Dean discussed the natural gas project at a legislative breakfast meeting in Manchester on May 15. He agreed with the comment from an audience member that the reason people were opoposed was because the towns were not getting any information, and added that the state wasn't getting any either. He felt they had done a very poor job of advocating for the project.

What can YOU do?
Support Vermonters for a Clean Environment, the group working on your behalf for meeting responsible energy needs.
Please contact us at the address below for more information.